“There’s nothing wrong with looking after your constituency and if you tell me Independents do not take responsibility, I tell you we’re taking a hell of a lot more responsibility some of the other politicians,” he said on RTÉ Radio One’s Today programme.

“If this (leak) is a tactical ploy to keep Independents under control, it’s not going to work.”

Mr Healy-Rae said it was “paramount” that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael sign a written agreement as Micheál Martin’s party look to “facilitate” a minority Government in on-going talks.

He was joined by Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley who said he would not “pre-empt” party negotiators by calling for such an agreement.

Mr Dooley insisted the party “had no intention of bringing the Government down at any opportune time” after criticisms from former Labour Party TD Pat Rabbitte on the show.

Mr Rabbitte hit-out at Fianna Fáil believing a Coalition between it and Fine Gael to be the only option for stable Government.

He added the Labour party would be opposed to re-entering Government after suffering a hammering at the polls in the February.

The veteran Dublin politician played down fears that party would be “swallowed-up” in a crowded opposition saying the concern is “over done.”